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Saturday, January 30, 2010

The home page for USA Network’s Law & Order Criminal Intent indicates that, as of this writing, the series will be premiering its 9th season on Tuesday, March 30 at 10:00 PM ET/9:00 C on the USA Network. An unofficial list of episodes, based on information from casting calls, is listed below:

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Here are some photos from Law & Order SVU working on location at West 24th street and 8th Avenue in New York City this week, with Chris Meloni, Mariska Hargitay and guest star Diora Baird. I love it when Chris hams it up for the cameras!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

During the TCA press tour earlier in January, an NBC representative mentioned that the episode order for Law & Order would be increased by four episodes NBC has now made an official announcement, confirming that the total number of episodes for "Law & Order" will be 23 (three added instead of the 4 they originally reported). In addition, the number of episodes for Law & Order SVU will now be at 24 (two were added).

I am sure fans will appreciate any new episodes added to the schedule!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Here are a few photos of Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay on location filming an episode of Law & Order SVU titled "Savior". They were scheduled to film at Bethune St and Washington St in NYC so I assume this is where these photos were taken.

Law & Order “Blackmail” was one of those episodes where one half seemed better than the other, in this case, it was the detectives portion that seemed far more interesting that the prosecution half. The episode seemed to be patterned after the recent David Letterman blackmail scandal, while also taking a swipe at The View with the episodes fictional woman’s show “The Sisters,” with, Van Buren saying “it’s a great way of turning off your brain for an hour.” Likewise, they also took swipes at gossip sites such as Gawker.com (which I don't care for either.)

After hearing the recent story about why he had to shave his beard from a clean shaven Anthony Anderson’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon and after seeing the new Law & Order cast photo with a clean shaven Jeremy Sisto spliced in, I wondered how they were going to work the whole beard issue into an episode. When Van Buren tells them that the bearded look is “not working” I suspect that it was some sort of oblique reference to the fact that either someone with the show “up high” wanted the beards gone, or they felt fans thought the beards weren’t working. My opinion is the only problem with the beards is that both Sisto and Bernard had the same kind of beards. But no big deal, now it will only be a problem for them when they want to go undercover or do surveillance in the open because now they will look like cops (that may not be a good thing).

I noticed one error in filming or editing in the scene where Bernard was eating a sandwich at Carville's home. He drops the sandwich back on the plate, and then magically a few seconds later at the end of the scene it is in hand again so he can drop it again.

The first half of the show had a lot of promise, with an interesting blackmail case and an interesting investigation. But I thought the episode took a wacky turn when it got into the whole issue with DiPalma being forced by gunpoint to pretend he was strangling Megan, the eventual victim. I found myself wondering how exactly did Megan get from a fake strangling to dead? As she wasn’t killed by his gun, then how did Derek manage to restrain her to strangle her? Did he have help? The ME didn’t comment about signs of a struggle. Did DiPalma assist in the manner? It’s the whole story where DiPalma said that Derek had taken care of it that left me feeling that there were still too many unanswered questions about DiPalma's involvement in the murder.

All in all, it was still a good episode, but it seemed a little dull as the episode continued to wind down. Despite that, I think that the writing on the Law & Order episodes is far better than what we are seeing on SVU as of late. The dialog with Law & Order seems much more realistic, natural, and even more amusing at times than SVU, the latter which seems like one can predict too easily what will be said next. SVU is getting almost as campy as the camp-fest CSI Miami. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Law & Order continues to get better with age, and this current cast has great chemistry and the writers have supported them with great dialog. I am hoping that all the details get worked out for season 21, but I won’t be celebrating until I see it on the fall schedule, and hopefully with the same cast.

Here is the recap:

In a restaurant, reporter Megan Kerrick tells another woman that she would be a totally anonymous source, but the other woman says she doesn’t understand the point in talking about it. She concerned someone would figure out her identity. She adds she has a new job and isn’t widely considered a slut and things are fine the way they are. But Megan argues that it is not right, and it keeps happening over and over. The other woman responds that she’ll think about it and will let her know.

Later, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) arrive at the scene of an uncompleted building, the police officer saying that the developer ran out of money. Construction ended 6 months ago and security is “half-assed.” Someone called in finding the body using 911 at a pay phone and the caller left no name. They see a woman’s body lying underneath the metal; it is the reporter we saw at the restaurant. Lupo sees bruises on her neck, but there is no blood. The police officer tells them no purse or ID was found, and wonders if she is a “working girl” who brought a john up there. But Lupo says her clothes are clean, no track marks on her arm, and no chops in her manicure. The police office comments that she could have been there forever before anybody found her, and Bernard responds he thinks that was the plan.

At the morgue, ME Rodgers (Leslie Hendrix) tells the detectives the victim died last night, and she was strangled. There is no vaginal tearing and no semen so she hadn’t had sex recently or she used a condom, but Rodgers did find a public hair on her upper inner thigh that is not her. It’s the wrong gender, and Rodgers tells them to find the penis it belongs to and they will have a lead. Lupo says they will get right on that.

Bernard enters Lt. Anita Van Buren’s (S. Epatha Merkerson) office to tell her they got a hit, but she is distracted by her medical bills. She realizes she was charged $89 for a “mucous recovery system” – a box of tissues. The Jane Doe is Megan Kerrick, her fingerprints matched a set in the Pentagon’s database, she was a freelance journalist who accompanied the USO troops to Afghanistan. The Pentagon takes their prints and DNA in case they are blown up. Lupo enters and tells them they also list next of kin, and he just got off the phone with her sister in San Diego who told him Megan wasn’t married, she never heard of any boyfriend, and that Megan spent most of her time writing for a web site called Citysmear.com, a site that digs up dirt on celebrities and others, the more embarrassing the more they like it. Van Buren tells them to find out who Megan has been embarrassing lately.

At the offices of Citysmear.com, they speak with the editor Dennis DiPalma (Raul Esparza) who asks if Megan’s death has been reported yet. Bernard asks if he is looking for a scoop, and DiPalma says it depends on what she was working on. He calls in Derek and asks what Megan was working on but he doesn’t know, she was just working on a story about a big environmental movie star who sent her cocker spaniel to Paris. When DiPalma tells Derek that Megan has been killed, he asks if it has been reported anywhere yet. The detectives give each other a look. DiPalma says Megan wasn’t working on anything for them that would get her killed. Lupo asks if he figures the cocker spaniel is in the clear, and DiPalma laughs uncomfortably. DiPalma says Megan was a freelance contributor and they have hundreds. Lupo asks to look at her desk, but as far as DiPalma knows she worked from home.

The detectives search Megan’s home and the home is neat and tidy. There is no computer and a file drawer is unlocked with a big gap inside. Bernard thinks the killer took her purse and he had her keys. Lupo checks an answering machine and there is a message on there from “Sara” who tells her she is sorry but she doesn’t want to talk about this and she thinks she should forget the story.

At the home of Sara Bradley, she explains that she only met Megan that one time, she contacted her out of the blue and said she wanted to meet her about a story – people who sleep with their bosses, which she did. She didn’t want to talk about it because she has a boyfriend and a new boss, and she didn’t want them to know. Megan told Sara she talked to a woman who used to work where she used to work and had the same “position:” that she did with the boss. The problem is the boss is not a “he.”

In Van Buren’s office, Van Buren, Lupo, and Bernard are watching a woman’s show called “The Sisters” with Vanessa Carville (Samantha Bee) as host. Megan was writing about women who were sleeping with Vanessa, which could have included Megan as Megan had been a production associate on The Sisters. Van Buren says she loves the show, it’s a great way of turning off your brain for an hour. Lupo asks her if she’d still love it if she knew Vanessa was plowing through her female employees. They wonder as Vanessa is married with a family if she found what Megan was writing about…and Van Buren tells them to go see her. Before they leave, she tells them, “And one more thing. I don’t know what kind of downtown look you guys are going for with this stubble and all, but it’s not working.” Lupo chuckles and asks, “For downtown or for you?” She responds, “Both. Have you looked in the mirror lately detective? You’re not in Karachi anymore. Alright?” As Lupo looks a little stunned, Bernard smiles and says, “OK” and they leave her office. Lupo turns and looks back to her and she turns “The Sisters” back on.

At a restaurant, Bernard asks Lupo if he ever watches her show and he says, “Sure, when I’m not knitting booties for my cat.” The spot Vanessa sitting at a table and walk over to her and she’s dining with two men. Bernard wonders if one of them is her husband, and Lupo thinks this could be awkward. Bernard says that’s why they get paid the big bucks. When they address Vanessa, they find the man she is dining with is DA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), who seems just as surprised to see them. He tells they must be mind readers, he was just going to call One PP as Vanessa just came to him with her attorney as she is being blackmailed.

In McCoy’s office with her attorney, Vanessa tells McCoy and Van Buren she likes to leave for the studio early so she can read the papers before anyone gets there. She came out of her house at 6 AM and nearly tripped over an envelope of incriminating photos with her and other woman, plus emails and diary entries. She did not see who left it. The photos are real but she’d rather deal with it than pay $3 million to some blackmailer. McCoy tells Van Buren the cover letter asks for $3 million or this will all be published in a book. Vanessa is supposed to wait at home for a phone call at noon to arrange payment. Van Buren says this involves Megan Kerrick, and Vanessa says that things with Megan ended badly and wonders if this was revenge. Van Buren tells her that Megan was murdered two night ago, and Vanessa is shocked. When Van Buren adds that before Megan died she was working on Vanessa’s story, Vanessa concludes she is a suspect. She says she didn’t know Megan was working on the article, she hasn’t spoken to Megan in over a year. She asks what they do now, and McCoy says it can’t be a coincidence that the blackmail comes at the same time as Megan’s murder. He says they should play along with the blackmailer if she is up to it. Vanessa says she has to get to the studio but will be home before noon. Van Buren wants to get her people in there before that, and Vanessa says she will arrange that. After Vanessa leaves, McCoy asks what Van Buren thinks. She says she killed Megan to keep her quiet, coming forward with a bogus blackmail story would be a smart way to throw them off. But McCoy finds that hard to believe, but just in case – and he points to Vanessa’s coffee cup for Van Buren to take for fingerprints and/or DNA.
At the home of Vanessa Carville, Lupo and Bernard are there waiting for the phone call. Vanessa wonders if Megan was in on it and she tried to back out. Bernard says that’s a theory, and picks up a small sandwich to eat. Vanessa tersely asks if the other theory is that she (Vanessa) did it, and Bernard responds that’s a theory. She tells him, “No more sandwiches for you” and Bernard halts putting it in his mouth and taking a bite, and tosses it back on the plate. It is nearly 1:00 PM and no call yet, and Vanessa’s husband Wayne walks in, testy. She tells him he does not need to be there as they are handling it. Wayne says his wife’ affair with other woman and $3 million, it’s more interesting that what’s happened in the office. She tells them she is heading for the studio and they can stay if they want to, all of them/ After she walks out, Wayne, drinking, says, “Just us guys.” Bernard throws the sandwich on the plate (for the second time).

Back at the 2-7, Lupo tells Van Buren the blackmailer never called. She wonders if he knew they were there and was watching the house, but Lupo said they were careful, they came in the service entrance. Van Buren wonders is Vanessa made the whole thing up. Bernard said she didn’t make this up, and he reads an entry from the file, a steamy message from Vanessa to Megan. When Bernard asks if she has seen the stuff in the blackmail package, Van Buren says she would have paid the $3 million. He also reads something from Megan’s diary where Megan said she was nervous at first but they split one of her Vicodin and a bottle of wine. Bernard shows one of the photos to “Lupes” of a picture of Vanessa in what they recognize as Sara Bradley’s apartment – the girl who said she didn’t cooperate with Megan’s research. Van Buren wonders how that picture wound up in the blackmail surprise.

Back at Sara’s home, she admits she took that photo, but she never gave it to Megan. She also realizes that her back up hard drive had been stolen a few weeks ago. She filed a police report.. Lupo’s phone rings, and tells the caller they will set it up. He tells Bernard that Carville got the call and it is a go.
In a park area, Vanessa is going to meet the blackmailer as Lupo is waiting nearby watching and listening. Bernard is in a surveillance van doing the same. Vanessa is also wearing an earpiece so she can hear Bernard, and he tells hr to take seat on the bench. She does. Lupo sees someone approach Bernard tells Vanessa to stop talking. It is DiPalma, Megan’s editor, and Bernard comments that DiPalma said he had no idea what Megan was working on and Lupo says he guesses he lied. DiPalma asks Vanessa if she brought the check, but she asks who he is and why she is doing this. Bernard wonders what she is doing, and Lupo says she is conducting an interview. DiPalma sits down and Vanessa seems to be getting argumentative, and Lupo tells her to just give him the damn check. She does, and as DiPalma begins to walk off, Lupo stops him and arrests him.

In the interrogation at the 2-7, DiPalma is there with his attorney Mr. Baron (Jason Kravits), who says the whole thing is a misunderstanding. He says he had nothing to do with Megan but his Baron tells him to shut up and tells the detectives no more questions, and asks if he should try that in French. Lupo asks if DiPalma wants to give them a key to his apartment or would he prefer they take the door off its hinges – the search warrant is on it’s way.

McCoy walks into EADA Michael Cutter’s (Linus Roache) office, with ADA Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) present, and asks if the police found anything. Cutter says the found enough to nail DiPalma on the blackmail 10 times over, Megan’s notebooks, diary, originals of the blackmail material, the stolen computer hard drive. When McCoy asks if there is anything tying DiPalma to Megan’s murder, Rubirosa says the pubic hair found on DiPalma’s sheets matches the one found on Megan’s body. Cutter comments it is obvious what happened: Megan felt burned by her relationship with Carville and was expecting a promotion at least, instead she got dumped for the next flavor of the month and then laid off, it is all in her diaries. She wanted to get even, and McCoy suspects that DiPalma highjacked her article and be turned it into blackmail. McCoy asks if they can prove that, and Rubirosa says that wasn’t in her diary. McCoy asks what they do have on the murder, and Cutter says enough to nail DiPalma on the blackmail 10 times over. McCoy says it is better than nothing and could be a lever to shake something lose, telling them to move on it.

At arraignment court, DiPalma is being arraigned for attempted grand larceny in the first degree. Baron enters a plea of not guilty, and Rubirosa requests remand as DiPalma is a key suspect in a related homicide. Baron says this is irrelevant to bail, and the judge asks if this is related to the blackmail of a TV personality for $3 million, but Baron says DiPalma is innocent . The judges suggests they pick a number for bail that is relevant, and sets it a $3 million.
On the courthouse steps, Baron talks to reporters about the case, saying they have only heard Carville’s side, which the police and the DA have swallowed whole. As Cutter and Rubirosa watch from a short distance, he says this case is also about the motive and intent of Carville, and DiPalma wants to tell the full story in court and if in defending his reputation other people are damaged, that’s just the way it’s got to be. He says he has a few questions for Carville, adding actually more than a few. Cutter comments to Rubirosa, “Now the real blackmail begins.”

In the judges chambers, Baron is seeking a long list of material and he argues that it is only fair as DiPalma has a right to get his story out and says the information is likely to lead to credible and relevant evidence for the defense. He wants tax returns for the last 10 years to see if she took any business deductions for incriminating material. Cutter sarcastically asked if he thinks Carville itemized previous blackmail attempts, and Baron says he want to know if she has bought any material similar to that offered to her by DiPalma. Cutter argues DiPalma was not selling a book, he was committing larceny by extortion. But Baron argues DiPalma was conduction a journalistic sting as he was going to publish an expose of Carville's behavior on his web site. But Cutter challenges why DiPalma demanded a $3 million check NOT to publish it? Baron says DiPalma was never going to cash that check, he was going to post a photo of it on his web site as proof she had something to hide. Cutter, smiling, says they are straying into absolute fantasy, but Baron counters asking what kind of blackmailer asks for a payment by check? Cutter responds, “A dumb one! This isn’t an intelligence test, this is a criminal proceeding, and these defense subpoenas are onerous, unreasonable, and designed merely to harass the victim of the crime. “ He goes on to read from the list, citing the defense wants the personnel files of 200 of her Carville’s employees going back to 1992, and Baron is looking for sexual harassment complaints, or if any have been granted special treatment ion exchange for sexual favors. The judge tells Baron that his requests are extraordinary but she will see the briefs on it.

At the TV studio of “The Sisters,” Carville is apoplectic about the possibility the judge will allow some of this. Rubirosa says the law is on their side, but Carville said she just had a candid talk with the audience about this and she hoped she wouldn’t have to say anything else. Cutter reminds her she will have to be a witness at the trial, Carville guesses she knew that but adds things are a little tense on the home front. Her husband or his attorney may end up at that trial taking notes if they end up fighting over child custody, and the things that could come out. Cutter promises her that he will fight to keep the trial as narrowly focused as they can. Carville says the other guy is the criminal, asking why are we doing all the fighting?

Afterwards as they walk down the street, Rubirosa comments that with child custody, Carville is probably wishing she paid the $3 million. Cutter says Baron is playing a game and nothing he is asking for is relevant, but Rubirosa says a judge might disagree. Cutter days they will handle adding, adding they should shoot down the claim that DiPalma was practicing journalism, not blackmail. He asks about the check DiPalma was never going to cash, and Rubirosa says that it was made out, at DiPalma’s request, to something called Feature Literistics, and Cutter asks what the hell is that?

Back at the offices of Citysmear.com, Derek tells them he is busy because he is now acting editor. Rubirosa tells him he may be acting for 8 to 10. She asks him if he knows about Feature Literistics, and he says it sounds like a literary enterprise for someone who can’t read. He tells her he thinks she is on the wrong trail, DiPalma was never hard up for money, he has a nice apartment and car and tikes nice vacations, Rubirosa asks where.

Rubirosa returns to Cutter’s office and informs him DiPalma vacationed in the Cayman Islands, and Cutter thinks offshore bank account. Rubirosa said it was opened one month ago under Feature Literistics, a corporation registered to a Bahamas PO box. Cutter comments that DiPalma went to a lot of trouble to create an untraceable account for a check he wasn’t going to cash. Rubirosa tells him that DiPalma opened the account in person during a 3 day stay at a beach report with Megan. Cutter says, “ A little more public hair transferring going on?” Rubirosa thinks either they were doing the blackmail together and had a falling out, and Cutter finishes, adding or she was working on an article and he found out about it and decided to go the blackmail route, and she did not want to go along, and he kills her. Rubirosa adds, “Or his accomplice did.” When Cutter asks what accomplice, Rubirosa tells him the weekend they were in the Caribbean is when Sara’s hard drive was stolen. As they were found in DiPalma’s apartment, the police assumed he stole it, Cutter commenting that they all did.

At Rikers Island, DiPalma still denies he did anything, but Cutter says they have an opportunity here. Cutter tells him the murder has a higher priority, but Baron comments they have no evidence against DiPalma. Cutter clarifies that if another person was involved and DiPalma can help them find that person they can negotiate a plea. Rubirosa brings up Sara’s hard drive being found in his apartment after it was stolen from hers, and he said it was research for his expose and he got it himself. Cutter asks if he is confessing to burglary, and Baron quickly responds that he is not confessing to anything. Cutter insists that DiPalma is covering for somebody and asks why. When DiPalma doesn’t respond, Baron says they have nothing else to say, but hands him some briefs.

Back in the judge’s chambers, she says she has been reviewing the briefs, but denies Baron’s requests for Carville’s tax records and notes from her marriage counseling sessions. Cutter adds that the employee files are privileged and confidential. But Baron argues this case is all about Carville’s relationships with her employees. Cutter reminds him it is about blackmail, asking Baron if he lost his copy of the indictment he can take a look at his. Baron tells the judge that DiPalma got most of the information from Megan Kerrick, and Rubirosa interjects that they suspect DiPalma murdered. Baron says there was no mention of that in the indictment either. He goes on to say that Megan conducted research of Carville’s former employees, several of who are not named and they need to find them to find out what Megan told them about her project. Cutter argues that these women do not need to be dragged into the limelight. Baron pushed back, saying if they can shed exculpatory light on Kerrick and DiPalma’s intentions, it is not their choice, he has the right to compel their testimony., The judge asks him to draft his subpoena more narrowly to include the files only of those women who might have been candidates in Megan’s research. As they break up, Rubirosa calls it Carville’s former lovers on parade, wondering how Carville will feel about that. Cutter says he will go talk to her.

Later, Rubirosa comes into Cutter’s office as he is watching “The Sisters.” She asks how it went, and he tells her to see for herself. We see Carville on her show, bitching about how the legal system is handling this and how some of her ex-employees will be dragged through the mud. She doesn’t want this to happen to so many good people and good friends, so she announces she has not choice but to abandon her complains about DiPalma, even if it means a blackmailer goes free. Rubirosa adds, “Not to mention a murderer.”

In court, Cutter is arguing Baron’s motion to dismiss, calling it premature and the evidence hasn’t disappeared. He judge reminds him the complaining witness has. Cutter says the trial has not begun and it is too early to say she isn’t going to show up. But Baron counters that she just told 10 million people she wouldn’t. Cutter says that made good television. Cutter goes on to say that they are continuing communication with the victim and the judge says good luck to him. She won’t dismiss for now, but she will release DiPalma on his own recognizance as there is no sense in leaving him in jail for a trial that may never happen. DiPalma grins. But Rubirosa comments that is great, he an his accomplice can go out for a beer and have a big laugh over this whole thing. Cutter wonders that may not be a bad idea.
With the New York Ledger article titled “Blockbuster Bid for Carville Book" along with DiPalma's picture up on his computer screen, McCoy asks Cutter and Rubirosa if they saw what is on the internet, saying DiPalma just got a half million to write a book about Carville. When Rubirosa adds that his lawyer indicated it was a journalistic project but he is still 2.5 million short, Cutter reminds her of sales of paperbacks, movie rights and it could be as profitable as the blackmail. McCoy says that publishing it is perfectly legal, but threatening to publish it is a felony and it doesn’t seem to make sense but somehow it does. Cutter calls it coercion. McCoy nods and smiles, saying he’s glad they prosecuted for a reason.

Meanwhile, DiPalma is back in his office, and he gets a phone call. A man asks if it feels good to be back, and DiPalma asks what does he think. The caller says he heard that congratulations are in order, and DiPalma says he graduated at the top of his class in Rikers. The caller says he just read about his book deal and is surprised he didn’t call him to share the good news. DiPalma says no one has called him, it is just publishing gossip. The caller mentions the half million dollars, and he wants $250K. DiPalma says there is no money it’s just a rumor. Later, Rubirosa and Cutter are listing to the recording of that call, and the caller goes on to ask if DiPalma is hiding it the Caymans like he was going to hide the money from Carville. DiPalma says there is nothing to hide, he swears. Rubirosa stops the recoding, saying it worked, the phony book deal story. Cutter says he thought it would get DiPalma and his friends something to talk about. Rubirosa says the police found that the caller is Derek Fanning who works on the web site, she met him and he said he wanted to go to architecture school. Cutter quips he guesses he is raising tuition money. Rubirosa adds there were two calls made after that one, Fanning kept asking for money and DiPalma kept saying there wasn’t any, and Fanning kept calling him a liar. Rubirosa gets a phone call, and says they will be right over. It was Van Buren, the police just found Megan’s laptop.

At the NYPD Computer Case Squad, Van Buren tells Cutter and Rubirosa that it was dropped off in the lobby of Megan’s building with a note saying it had been found abandoned in a coffee shop. Megan’s address was on a sticker on the bottom. There was a video on it with what looks like DiPalma trying to kill Megan, and Van Buren says it could be rough sex. Megan did not die, not on camera Cutter asks for the date of the video and the computer tech it is the day of the murder, but it is not hard to fudge the date if you know what you are doing. Van Buren does not know who dropped off the computer as the note was unsigned and no prints. Rubirosa says if they arrest DiPalma for murder based on this video there is a providence issue. Van Buren says that is the least of it, adding that the ring on DiPalma's right hand would have left a mark and the ME found no matching marks on her neck. Rubirosa wonders if he took the ring off before he killed her, but Van Buren says if he is the one who did. The computer tech notices a reflection in the alarm clock and they realize someone else was in the room when the video was taken. Cutter says on its face the video is evidence that DiPalma is the murderer but it miraculously shows up right after DiPalma’s accomplice demands a quarter of a million dollars and DiPalma tells him he can’t pay. Rubirosa comments that the blackmailer was being blackmailed.

Later, in Cutter’s conference room, they show Baron and DiPalma the video. Baron says it is no secret DiPalma was dating Megan, and Cutter says , “Dating? That’s what you call it? Baron says if they thought this made DiPalma a murderer he would already be under arrest. Cutter says they haven’t given up the thought and says he hope DiPalma brought his toothbrush. Baron says they must be something wrong with the video or the wouldn’t be here. Cutter says they’d like to hear what DiPalma says about all of it or it will become people’s exhibit #1 and his murder trial and they can discuss what’s wrong or right about it there. DiPalma admits that Derek Fanning made him do it, he shot it while he was with Megan, Fanning had a gun on them and stood at the side of the bed. Baron realizes that they knew someone was there and they knew the video was fishy. DiPalma said Fanning made him pretend he was strangling Megan or he would shoot him, adding Derek was crazy. He adds that when Megan came to him about Carville, he though it was a great story and he asked Derek for help with research. Derek broke into Sara’s apartment and he said they shouldn’t publish the story and they could make a lot of money. DiPalma went along and he dropped the stuff at Carville’s door. That night Megan figured it out and she would call Carville or call the police, Derek made him do that. When he left Megan was alive and Derek called her later and said he took care of her and they could go ahead with the blackmail. DiPalma adds that he freaked and he didn’t call Carville like he was supposed to. Derek said that if he didn’t get back to it he would send that video to the police. He did what Derek said. Cutter says he thinks that is the craziest story he ever heard, and Baron said then it must be true, right?

At arraignment court, they are arraigning Derek for the murder in the second degree, and Derek pleads not guilty. Rubirosa says that Derek is accused of the murder of the source of the blackmail information when she threatened to call the police. The defense attorney says the people’s main witness is the former blackmail defendant and is hardly credible. Rubirosa disagrees, saying DiPalma was as shocked as anybody at the brutal and cold blooded nature of the murder. The judge says his credibility is for a jury to decide and he sets bail at $3 million, commenting “why break precedent.”

Rubirosa, Cutter, Baron and DiPalma are in Cutter’s office, Cutter saying the analysis of the video will lend some support. Rubirosa adds they also found Derek’s gun and fingerprints on Sara’s hard drive, and in Megan’s apartment, Cutter comments that the jury will be skeptical about DiPalma and they will have to work to convince them to trust his testimony. But Baron says that DiPalma has decided not to appear as it is not in his best interest to testify. Cutter, stunned, says they can still prosecute DiPalma for the murder instead, but Baron says that ship has sailed as Rubirosa already told the judge that Fanning is the killer and it would be easy to raise reasonable doubt if they try DiPalma. Cutter asks if DiPalma is afraid Fanning will be acquitted and come after him or is he holding something over his head, and DiPalma says he doesn’t think if he publicly swears he was blackmailing is the best possible career move, plus he could get sued or the Feds could come after him. Rubirosa suggest immunity and subpoena him and if he then refuses to testify they can charge him with contempt. He says contempt he can handle, and Cutter says not to worry, he already has theirs, and he opens the door for them to leave.

McCoy latter comments that it’s blackmail and murder and everybody walks, suggesting they should go into another line of work, dry cleaning. Rubirosa suggests they could charge them together for both crimes, and McCoy responds that they will both stay silent and they will be pushing two rocks up two hills. He asks about the blackmail victim, but she still will not get involved as there is too much that she doesn’t want people to see. Cutter says this blackmail thing really works, and McCoy wonders if they should try it.

Later, Vanessa Carville has arrived at the DA’s office, and says she could not let this go to trial . He says that is what he wanted to talk to her about, and leads her into the conference room where Cutter, Rubirosa, Baron and DiPalma are waiting. She asks if this is some kind of shock therapy to change her mind. Cutter asks her to remember how she felt when she was being blackmailed. She says it was awful but doesn’t want innocent friend to be hurt. McCoy says she is sorry, but they are going to charge her with criminal sale of a controlled substance for the ½ vicodin pill she gave Megan. She says he gave it to her, she didn’t sell it, but Rubirosa says the legal definition of sell means to sell, exchange, or give, and the law still applies and so does the penalty. Carville doesn’t believe it, and Cutter adds that the charge won’t help her in a divorce or in a fight over child custody. She calls them sons of bitches, glaring at McCoy, saying that they are no better than DiPalma is. She agrees to testify, saying sarcastically, :Sure, I can’t wait” DiPalma gets worried, asking if she still can do this. Barons says yes the case hasn’t been dismissed, but says he doesn’t think she ever will, asking that is not the plan, is it? McCoy says now that they have Carville’s cooperation, DiPalma is looking at 10 years for blackmail. Baron says if he changes his mind about testify against Fanning, he might let that slide. Carville gets a look of realization on her face as Cutter says they could probably work something out; if he nails Fanning for the murder, and takes a plea he can do two years. Carville comments that they screwed with her to screw with him, and McCoy nods yes, calling it a “bank shot.” She tells him, You’re still a son of a bitch” and McCoy smiles. Cutter asks if they have a deal, and DiPalma looks to Baron and Baron says deal.

Later, Rubirosa says to Cutter that it was a blackmail daisy chain, they definitely didn't teach that in law school. Cutter says, “Turn about, it was only fair.” Rubirosa comments, “So that’s the new game plan. We do what they do. Next time we try a murderer, we’ll kill somebody “ Cutter says, “I don’t know, we’ll have to ask the boss.” They walk off as we see the open door to McCoy’s office with the light still on, as we fade to black.

Friday, January 15, 2010

NBC has released the episode information for Law & Order SVU “Confidential" which includes Law & Order's Sam Waterston as a guest star (as DA Jack McCoy, of course). UPDATE 1/26/2010 - NBC has removed "Confidential" from the schedule and will air an SVU "rerun" instead. I assume "Confidential" will air after the Olympics.)

Here are the episode details:

Law & Order SVU “Confidential” Air Date TO BE DETERMINEDA WOMAN'S MURDER IS LINKED TO A VAST PONZI SCHEME THAT LEADS DETECTIVES BENSON (MARISKA HARGITAY) AND STABLER (CHRISTOPHER MELONI) TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION OF A SIMILAR CRIME COMMITTED TWENTY YEARS EARLIER

When security cameras record footage of a woman being abducted, it isn't long before Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) and the SVU squad find the woman dead in the basement. Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) recalls a similar case from twenty years before, sending Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Eliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) to Sing Sing to speak to the culprit, who begs them to reopen his case and prove his innocence. As strange similarities between the two cases begin to arise, Benson and Stabler face fierce opposition from Ingrid Block (guest star Lena Olin), the pit bull attorney for the main suspect who will do whatever it takes to prove her client's innocence. Ultimately, it falls on DA Jack McCoy (guest star Sam Waterston) to decide whether or not the ruthless lengths to which Block went to defend her client constituted a crime itself. Also starring: Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

Thursday, January 14, 2010

NBC will be sporting a new line up after the Winter Olympics, beginning on March 1. Law & Order will move to Monday night at 10:00 PM ET, and Law & Order SVU will move to Wednesday at 10:00 PM ET. (Just some advance warning, due to personal scheduling issues of my own, once Law & Order moves to Monday night, it will be unlikely that I will be able to post recaps for Law & Order until later in the day on Tuesday or early Wednesday.)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Well, I think I have an idea for Dick Wolf for yet another Law & Order. How about if we call it “Law & Order Special Fraud Unit?” and cast Naveen Andrews in it? This was an enjoyable episode with Naveen as a guest star, as he played the calm, cool, suave and somewhat mysterious detective Ashok Ramsey from the Special Frauds Unit. Likewise, Sarah Paulson’s performance was enjoyable, starting off as being a somewhat believable victim of her parents murder, to being the psychopathic murderer that she was.

But let’s be honest here, this was not an SVU case and it was ridiculous that they even let the SVU team run with it. Clearly, this should have been bumped over to the Major Case Squad – remember them? – because the victims were rich, powerful, and connected, who also donated a lot of money to local politicians. It doesn’t make sense that the Chief of Detectives would allow the “sex crimes” team to handle such high profile victims, especially when he has a perfectly good Major Case Squad which is located right at One PP. But, okay, I’ll play along.

While it seemed obvious early on that Anne Gillette would be the killer in the end – even if I had not seen a few preview clips it seemed obvious – she played the part very well in a campy sort of way, and I found myself enjoying it when it caught up with her in the end. What made the episode interesting for me was Naveen Andrews, as he seemed to grab my attention every time he was on the screen. I’ve always liked Naveen on “Lost” and I enjoyed him just as much in this role as frauds detective Ashok Ramsey. Sometimes, though, it isn’t his physical presence that draws attention, it’s his voice, which is commanding yet oddly soothing at the same time. I was amused when the woman from the US Attorney’s office left Ramsey's apartment and thanked him for “the files.” Yeah sure, like we really believe it was the files she was thanking him for.

The shooting scene was an obvious fake, as viewers know full well that Mariska was not being cut from the show, and photographs of her filming in other episodes after this one were previously released. So while Anne seemed thrilled that they were dead, most viewers had to know that it was a set-up. (For viewers that didn’t know that, turn in your SVU Fan Card immediately as your membership has been revoked.) By the way, I think this was a great episode for Mariska and I thought she and Naveen had good chemistry.

A quirky thing that I noticed about the Chief of Ds was rather than storm into someone’s office as any angry boss would likely do, he yells for the person to come out of their office, where he dresses the troublemaker down in an open area. He did it to Ramsey, and he did it to Cragen. Somehow, it seems behavior unlike what I would expect from a Chief of Ds. Sure, he’s chewed people out in front of others before, but many times he’s started his rants in an office, such as Cragen’s, before he takes it into the open.

I caught a filming or editing error, which I normally am oblivious to but this one was glaring. When Stabler was posing as Anne Gillette’s limo driver – his simple undercover outfit was sunglasses, of course, he looked nothing like a cop (note sarcasm!) – he was talking to Benson as cars streamed by on the street in the shot focusing on Mariska, yet when the scene immediately cut to Stabler, there isn’t one car in sight on that street, and they should have been in view as they continued to drive down the street.

And where in the world is Munch (Richard Belzer)? It seems we don’t even get an explanation any more when he goes MIA.

Another thing missing in action was the “Lick my boot…LICK IT!” line that was so heavily touted in the NBC promo teases for this episode. Frankly, the line sounded silly and cheesy to me in the promos, and seemed more like something I would expect to see from the cheese-fest CSI Miami and not Law & Order SVU. Even though it wasn't in the episode, the line will likely be forever embedded in my brain anyway. Had they left that line in, it could have become as memorable as the “Is this because I’m a lesbian?” line delivered by Elisabeth Rohm in the Law & Order episode “ Ain’t No Love” – and that’s not something of which to be proud.

Here is the recap:Mike, the Gillette chauffeur, enters the Gillette household and calls out for Mr. and Mrs. Gillette. No one respond, but the dog appears, barking. The dog looks dirty, but Mike realizes it is blood. He runs up the stairs, calling out to the Gillettes, and when no one answers he opens the bedroom door to find blood splattered everywhere, and the Gillette’s dead in their bed.

On the scene, SVU Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) are told by CSU Tech Keegan Timmons (Jabari Gray) that it looks like a domestic murder-suicide, assuming Burt Gillette killed his wife Elaine and then killed himself. Benson notices Elaine’s head was hacked up, and the CSU guy shows them a hatchet by the fireplace, and tells them the gun was found by Burt’s head. Anne Gillette (Sarah Paulson) races into the room and kneels at the bed where her dead parents lay. When she asks what happens, Stabler tells her they think her father murdered her mother and then took his own life. She asks her mother why did he do this to you, and Benson takes her out of the room.

Benson and Stabler return to the SVU squad, and Captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) says that ME Warner told him they ducked out on her before she got there. Benson tells him they had to take the daughter home. They tried to interview her but she was a mess. Cragen adds that Warner tossed their murder-suicide theory; the gunshot wound to “Daddy Warbucks” head is inconsistent with self infliction – no residue on the hand. Benson states the obvious that it appears to be a double homicide, and Stabler adds the obvious that the perp is still on the loose. Cragen says they are knee deep in it as the Gillette’s gave generously to the police athletic league, were major campaign donors to the mayor and had the police commissioner on speed dial. When Benson says it is not domestic violence any more and he should turf it to homicide, Cragen says he already tried; the Chief of Ds said the Gillettes were special victims. Stabler adds because they are rich, powerful, and connected, and Cragen gripes that they are stuck with it. He tells them to go back to the crime scene with fresh eyes to see what evidence they can find.

Back at the Gillette home , Timmons tells them one pane of glass was cut out, and it was easy to reach and get the lock. Stabler chides that Timmons missed forced entry, but he said he processed the bedroom first as it looks like a murder-suicide. Benson said they came to the same conclusion. The glass breaking did not trigger the alarm as the individual panes were not wired. The security company said the system was not armed that night, records show the Gillette’s usually set the alarm around 11:00. The ME put the time of death at 10:00. The killer knows their routine, and they decide to talk to the Gillette daughter Anne for more information.

At the residence of Anne Gillette, they tell her that it was not a murder suicide. She can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt her parents. They were patrons of the arts and gave to charity. They were supposed to go to Florida last night but her mother was getting over the flu and Anne told her she should rest another day before they traveled. She says everyone knows they were going on vacation as they travel every year at the time to their home in Sanibel. Anne, the staff, and a few friends are the only people who knew that had not left. She thinks it was a burglar because everyone loved her parents, but Stabler informs her that nothing was taken and burglars don’t hang around to stage a murder-suicide, he feels this is personal. Anne feels the killer must be after her too, she was out shopping the other day and had a sense someone was following her and when she turned around she would see a man duck behind something. The man was wearing sunglasses, had dark hair, but was too far away to get a good look. She saw him on Wednesday, and she tells them she went to some boutiques, a jewelry store, and an art gallery in Chelsea that she adores.

At the art gallery, the curator (Nathan Lee Graham) tells Benson and Stabler that Anne was in fact there on Wednesday and on Monday as well. She buys from them and sells to them often, and she spends money there, lots of it. A woman on a ladder drops a paint bucket onto the floor. When Stabler says that was unfortunate, the curator says it is an installation piece, and talent like hers is rare. He informs them that he opened the door for Anne that day and no one came in after her, and tells them they have no security tapes, for the privacy of their customers.

At the jewelry store, the owner (Mark La Mura) tells the detectives that he has security cameras, his brother runs the security in the back and is probably eyeballing them on a dozen different screens. He said they saw Anne just the other day, she loves to buy “ice”. He did see someone that may have followed her, saying he was dark skinned. They reassure him that Anne is fine but they think someone was tailing her which is why they want to see the security footage. He tells them it is all digitized and he will burn them a disk.

Back at Anne’s apartment, they show her the photo of the man they think was tailing her. She says she thinks that could be him. Stabler tells her they have that same man on surveillance cameras from of the 3 shops that she visited on Wednesday. Benson adds that he followed her in, he bought nothing and he left 30 seconds after she did. Anne says so she was right, he was watching her and must have followed her to her parent’s house and killed them. As she walks away from the detectives, Benson asks why she thinks he target her family, and Anne replied that her picture is always in the paper and she attracts all kinds of attention from men who want her money. She as pours herself a drink, she asks them how they are ever going to find him. Stabler indicates they know where he is going to be tomorrow – following her. She comments they want to use her as bait, and then says she will hire bodyguards. But Benson tells her not to, that will spook her shadow. Sounding agitated, Anne asks if they are asking her to lure him out unprotected. Benson tells her they will be with her everywhere she goes, and when they see him, they will garb him.

At the funeral home, with Benson along with her, Anne is going over very specific arrangements with the funeral director, getting testy and saying she wants everything perfect. Stabler, posing as the limo driver, says he has not spotted the guy yet. After Anne gets in the car, Stabler wonders if they were made, but Benson thinks not, especially in the outfits they are wearing. Anne rolls down her window and tells Benson she wants her to make some calls for her, and Benson says “See? Even she forgot we’re cops.” She adds she is getting sick of the play acting, if he’s following her they would have seen her by now. Stabler says they have one more stop, and puts on his chauffeur hat disguise.

At All Grace Church, Anne speaks with the reverend about the funeral. Benson spots a man watching from nearby, and tells Stabler that she has movement at 3 o’clock. She turns to Anne and says she looks pale and she needs to rest. She asks the Anne if there is someplace he can take her, and Anne states she is fine and tells her not to fuss. As the man moves off, Stabler announces to him that he is the police, and he should freeze. Stabler asks him to turn around, and Ann sees the man’s face, saying that is him. As the main raises his arms, a gun is visible, and Benson yells “Gun!” but does not draw her weapon, instead Stabler pulls his as the man turns around and yells for Benson to get Ann out of there. Benson takes Anne away from the area, and the man turns his back to Stabler while Stabler continues to keep the gun on him. Stabler tells him not to move as he frisks him. The man tells Stabler that in the right inside pocket he will find something of interest. Stabler reaches for it and pulls out and ID for the NYPD SFU (Special Frauds Unit) badge # 348, with the name Ashok Ramsey. Stabler asks him if he is on the job, and Ashok introduced himself. Stabler tells him to turn around, and asks why he is tailing Anne Gillette. He says, “Because she’s a killer. Didn’t you know?”

In Cragen’s office, (Cragen is on the phone) Ramsey tells Stabler that he has been tailing Anne for the last two weeks. Stabler jabs at him he did a lousy job and got made. Ramsey says she has been leading him and Benson on a wild goose chase. Stabler asks if Ramsey saw him murder he parents, and he replies that he was not following her last night, his case work focused on her daytime activities. Cragen is now off the phone, and says they should talk about those, saying according to Ramsey’s CO, Special Frauds has no open investigation into Anne Gillette. Ashok tells him it is off the books. When Cragen asks by whose authority, Ramsey tells him it’s the Chief of Detectives. Cragen asks if he is running a “shadow” op, and Ramsey tells him that is what the mayor wants. Stabler sounds a little skeptical, commenting “Your Honor and the Chief of Ds, huh? You’re uh, pretty well connected.” Ramsey says he is not connected as well as the Gillette’s , he had to investigate Anne sub rosa so her family couldn’t quash the case. They are after her for embezzlement. When Cragen asks if the Gillette fortune wasn’t enough, Ramsey tells them she has expensive tastes, her trust fund ran out so she used a seed from the Prestwick Foundation Board to supplement her income, and she stole $3.5 million. Stabler comments that would keep “Miss Thing” in diamonds for quite awhile, and he takes her photo off one section of their white board and moves it to the top of the list. He shows Ramsey something and says it is for his scrapbook, and asks if Ramsey has enough proof that Anne killed her parents. Ramsey says not yet, but when he shows them his file he thinks they will be convinced. Cragen pipes in and says Ramsey can make her for a thief but it is a big jump to murder. Ramsey counters that Anne is the sole heir to her parent’s estate, worth over $200 million. Cragen admits that is a lot of motive, adding that she is broke, desperate, and all that money is just out of her reach. Benson walks up and comments that Ramsey is not in cuffs, and guesses he is one of them. Stabler introduces her, and Benson says so they really do have a modern day Lizzie Borden, but Stabler says only this time mom only got 10 whacks. When Benson asks how he got on to her, he says his office is at One PP and he will catch them up on the way downtown.

At One Police Plaza Special Frauds Unit, Ramsey shows them some slides of Anne, saying that Anne tried out 3 times for the Olympic equestrian team unsuccessfully. She then opened an art gallery which closed after she forgot to pay taxes for 5 years. Followed by a stint as an interior decorator, which resulted in six lawsuits, all of them settled privately. Benson wonders why Prestwick would want Anne on the board, and Ramsey says that daddy gave them $10 million. Staler quips that he got his daughter a job at Target and it didn’t cost him a dime. Ramsey says he is sure is daughter is more qualified to sit on the Prestwick Foundation board. He goes on to say that Anne was discretely kicked out of three prep schools, and she finally graduated from a girls finishing school in Switzerland, where she received credit for flower arrangement. Benson comments that “poor little rich girl” can’t cut in the real world but she is smart enough to steal $3.5 million, adding it doesn’t make sense. Ramsey urges her not to underestimate Anne, she’s incredibly smart, but she doesn't play by the rules.

In Ramsey’s office, which has many file boxes and where Ramsey works on the case, Stabler asked how she scammed the Prestwick Foundation, and Ramsey says their record keeping is abysmal. They have no computerized files, they just write checks to deserving organizations, and Stabler reads off some of the organizations and the amounts, saying maybe she is overly generous. Ramsey tells him those organizations do not exist, the bank accounts are opened with forged documents, the funds deposited, and Benson finishes by saying the cash is withdrawn once the checks clear. Ramsey said the foundation didn’t notice until Mr. Prestwick made a visit to the Chinatown Folk Ballet and wound up in a pet shop. They were embarrassed and wanted a quiet investigation so as not to scare off future donors. Benson asks if anyone at the bank ID Anne, and Ramsey says no, the accounts were opened by a white man in his 40s, otherwise unmemorable. Stabler thinks her accomplice had to show an ID as the Patriot Act requires verification of all account holders. Ramsey says with a charity, all you need are the 501-C3 papers. Stabler asks how he knew Anne was dirty, and he says the fraud began as soon as she joined the board, and right after each phony check was cashed, she went on shopping sprees. He has been tracking her spending and she is almost out of funds. Stabler comments that Ramsey has been tailing her so she would go back to her accomplice, but Benson says she couldn’t because Anne knew he was following her and must have realized the foundation was on to her. Stabler wonders if she went to mommy and daddy for money, they said no and she offed them. Ramsey calls it a classic red collar crime; when some white collar criminals are confronted and fear they are about to be caught, they can turn violent and the most common targets are the parents.

Someone yells from the hallway for Ramsey to get out there. Stabler says that the only time he hears that voice is when he is about to be bent over. Ramsey exits his office to find the Chief of Ds Muldrew, (John Schuck) and Mr. Prestwick (Edward Hibbert) standing there. The Chief tells him to suspend his investigation into the Prestwick Foundation. Prestwick says the man has been replaced and a board member heard of their predicament and pledged to cover their losses. Ramsey says, “Anne Gillette.” Prestwick says the donor wishes to remain anonymous. Ramsey says to the Chief that a crime was still committed, but Prestwick says has all been a misunderstanding. The Chief says Prestwick wants the foundation’s files back, and tells an officer to load up the records. The Chief asks angrily what Special Victims is doing there, and Stabler says they were just hitting up Ash to join them in a foursome for a golf tournament, SVU vs. Nassau Sex Crimes. The Chief says Ramsey would make a hell of a ringer. Ramsey asks if Prestwick is sure he doesn’t want a report of his findings, and Prestwick says it is not necessary, he’s so sorry that he troubled them. The Chief wishes them good luck on the links and departs with Pressman in tow, as Ramsey stares blankly as the walk off.

As he watches them take away boxes of files, Ramsey says “That’s 6 months of hard work going down the toilet.” But Benson comments that the Chief of Ds didn’t shut down their case. She turns to Ramsey and asks if he wants to nail Anne Gillette to work with them on it. He states that the minute they question her the Chief will pay their squad a visit, but Stabler says not if they question her as a victim, reminding them that the lady did say she had a stalker, Benson adds with a slight smile, “And we caught you.”

Later at the SVU squad, Ramsey is sitting in an interrogation room while Anne, looking on him from the observation room, says she is so glad they arrested him, and asks if they think he killed her parents. Benson replies that she does, but it would help them nail him if Anne would answer a few questions, and Anne agrees. Benson walks her into another interview room, and Anne comments , “Well, this is grim. I don’t know how you work under these conditions.” Benson comments “ Budget cuts. We’re used to it.” She goes on to say they are losing a lot of domestic violence shelter beds, counseling for rape victims…and Anne says perhaps she can arrange for a grant in her parent’s name. Benson replies that would be wonderful, but first they have to convict her parent’s killer to avoid any conflict of interests. Anne asks if they are charging him with murder. Benson comments she would love to, but they don’t have enough evidence. Ann says they have him on tape at the stores where he was and that can’t be a coincidence, but Benson says they have nothing to tie him to her parents’ house or their murders. Ann, agitated, asks that they have no fingerprints or DNA, and Benson says they must have worn gloves. Ann says that this is terrible, but Benson reassures her, telling her not to worry as homicide cases never close, so it may take some time, but they will convict her parents' killer. Anne says she knows he did it, she just wishes there was some way she could prove it. Benson reminds her she never said her parents were being followed or watched, and Anne said not to her. Benson asks her if there is anybody they may have told, and Anne says their business manager, Nate Hartman, who handles all of the family’s affairs. Benson says she will talk to him. Anne says she will call him first, saying he is a real stickler about confidentiality, and Benson can ring Nate in the morning after she’s spoken with him, giving Benson his card. Anne adds she is very tired and she’d like to go home. Benson offers to drive her, saying she can finish their questions there.

Watching from the observation room, Ramsey says to Stabler that his partner is good. Stabler says Anne is pretty confident Nate will lie for her and thinks he is her accomplice. Ramsey thinks a business manager would know how to exploit the foundation’s primitive accounting and open dummy accounts. Stabler says they should hit him before they get their stories straight.

At the residence of Nate Hartman (Dennis Boutsikaris) he asks Ramsey and Stabler what is the emergency and asks if Anne is OK. Stabler says Nate seems worried about her, and asks has he talked to her tonight? He says no, he’s concerned about her safety after what happened to her parents. Ramsey asks if Nate knows all the gory details, and Nate says just that they were murdered in their beds by burglars, that’s what Anne told him. Ramsey comments that Nate always believes what Anne says. He says of course, and asks what they are doing here. Nate tells him in a short while his phone will ring and Anne is going to ask her to lie for him. But Nate disagrees, saying Anne is a gentle soul and scrupulously honest. But Stabler barks that Anne has been robbing the Prestwick Foundation blind, with Nate’s help. The phone rings, and Nate looks at it, hesitating to answer. Stabler tells Nate that it is over, he is going to jail, but Ramsey adds that’s unless he answers the phone and does exactly what they say. Stabler tells him to pit it on speaker, and Nate does. It’s Anne, and she tells Nate that the police know who killed her parents but they don’t have enough evidence to arrest him, and that Nate has to say he saw him following her parents. She says he will describe him as Indian, dark hair, well dressed, and menacing and dangerous. Stabler and Ramsey give each other a look. She says to say he saw him watching the house and her parents saw him too, they were frightened and they asked him for advice. Nate asks if she wants him to lie, and she says that she wants justice for her parents and he is the only one who can deliver it. She says she will see him tomorrow “darling” at the funeral, and she hangs up. Nate asks them now what happens. Stabler responds “You talk, we listen.”

At the SVU interrogation room, Nate tells Ramsey that Anne told him it was a tax dodge and that the foundation knew, he did not know she was stealing. Ramsey says he doesn’t have to convince him, just a grand jury, the DA, the judge. He asks Nate why he did it, and he said he loved her and he thought she loved me. Benson, Stabler and Cragen watch from the observation room and Stabler says they got her, but Cragen reminds him it is for an embezzlement case that was shut down 6 hours ago and they still don’t have Anne Gillette for murder. Stabler says they heard her tell Nate to lie, but Cragen says she can claim she was distraught, that she was afraid the man that murdered her parents would walk. Stabler asks, “Who are you, Cabot?” Cragen tells him to just keep working the homicide, but Stabler comments that if she gets wind she’s going to buy herself a private island and fight extradition until they retire. Benson begs Cragen to let them pick her up before he gets the call telling them to stand down. He tells them to charge her with witness tampering and make a splash, Anne won’t be able to hush this up if it is all over the front page.

At All Grace Church, the church service is over and Anne sees Benson and Stabler waiting at the bottom of the steps to the church. She tells them this is very bad timing, saying they are on their way to the gravesite. Meanwhile, Ramsey walks up behind her, begins to cuff her, and says they will stop at the tombs. She turns around and sees who it is, surprised he is a cop. He arrests her for obstruction of justice, witness tampering.. She asks what witness, and Stabler tells her it’s Nate Hartman. She looks to Olivia and says, “You bitch, you set me up.” Benson and Stabler look happy as Ramsey takes her away, reading her rights.

Benson walks into Cragen’ s office, with Dr. Huang (B.D. Wong) present, and Cragen asks her if Anne lawyered up. Benson says no, but half the social register saw them collar her and somebody will call her lawyer. He tells her to get in there before he shows up. She asks Huang if he has any ideas on how to play her, and he says she is a sociopath, so she’ll want control. Benson says they won’t give her any. But Huang says to give it to her in spades, make her feel comfortable, Benson says so Anne slips up. But a voice shouting Cragen’s name is heard outside, and he shoos Benson out another door, saying, “Over here, quick.” Huang and Cragen exit the office. And the Chief is apoplectic. Saying Cragen’s pet cops went off the deep end by arresting Anne at her parent’s funeral. Cragen says they were obeying his direct order. The Chief says Cragen knew he ordered Ramsey to close this case, but Cragen says he didn’t think that trumped a double homicide. The Chief says this isn’t the moment for him to think, he says his detectives didn’t arrest Anne for murder, they arrested her for penny-ante witness tampering is what he heard. Cragen says for now, and The Chief asks if he can prove she is the killer, but Cragen admits not yet. He asks then why the hell did they arrest her in the middle of Park Avenue? Huang says she is dangerous, and The Chief asks if that’s his clinical opinion. Huang gets smart mouthed and asks if he wants him to use bigger words, fine, she’s a psychopath with extremely violent tendencies. The Chief cuts him off and tells him to stop showing off. Sighing, he tells them to bring her down for murder and he will back they play – but – “screw the pooch, and I’m gonna let the crap roll down hill.” The Chief walks off and Cragen , looking dejected, tells Huang they’d better crack her, or they will have a lot of shoveling to do.Stabler and Benson walk in to the interrogation room, along with Ramsey, and Anne is sitting there, observing it is “three against one” adding that they hardly play fair. Stabler suggests they talk anyway, and Anne says that to Stabler and Benson, certainly not, just Ramsey, and then tells Benson and Stabler to “shoo.” When they leave the room, Ramsey walks to the table and Anne says they have not been formally introduced, and she extends her hand to Ramsey and introduces herself. When Ramsey mentions his name, Anne asks if his mother is Sana Ramsey, and he says yes. She comments he has her eyes, adding they used to run into each other all the time in London - mutual friends. Stabler and Benson watch from the observation room, and Stabler asks, ”Who is this guy?” Anne goes on to say that he and his mother haven’t spoken in years, and why is that? He replies that overseas calls are expensive. But she counters, saying not any more, and he could afford it even if they were. He asks her why she is so interested in him, and she leans forward, saying it’s because they are two of a kind, the prodigal children. But Ramsey sits stone faced, saying they are nothing alike. But she counters that he came across the pond to escape his family, slumming as a cop, pretending to be someone else. She says, “I know all about it, darling, and sooner or later, you’ll fly back to the nest. “ He replies tersely, “And kill my parents like you killed yours.” She laughs, and comments that the shrinks have a word for that – projection. Ramsey says he doesn’t wish his parents dead, but she tells him to drop the act, we all do, it’s a terrible burden growing up rich. They give them too much, they give them to little, but in the end, there is all that money waiting when they are dead. Ramsey calmly states, “And you were tired of waiting.” She responds, “Tired, yes, but only tired.” She adds he will find plenty of witnesses that will tell him she spoke of being frustrated, but so is Prince Charles, and he hasn’t offed his mother, yet. Ramsey looks at her coldly and says he doesn’t covet what his parent’s have. She tells him he is still living in that adolescent place where he rejects their world, trying to prove he is his won man, but sooner or later they will lure him back in. When she says his mother is quite seductive, he leaps up from his chair, stares at her, and coldly says that she knows nothing. As he walks out, she says she knows more that he thinks. He storms out of the interrogation room and slams the door, and as he walks off, Stabler asks, “ That lady likes to play with her food.” Benson adds, “ Before she starts taking bites.” Fin (Ice-T) enters and says Anne’s attorney has arrived and doesn’t think he’s used to seeing his client locked in a cage.

They walk out, and her attorney, Yancy Winthrop (Stuart Burney), and Benson tells him he is welcome to her. He says first he wants to have a word with Benson and Stabler, but Stabler tells him to save his speech about how well he is connected she is, he doesn’t give a damn. He gives him 10 minutes before he has to take her to Central Booking and walks off. Yancy asks where is his client, and Benson shows him the way. Ramsey approaches Stabler saying he supposes he should explain, but Stabler says there is no need, he hates the bitch as much as he does. Ramsey says it is hardly worth booking her for two misdemeanors for witness tampering, she’ll waltz out of arraignment on low bail the minute the judge gavels. Stabler says they have nothing on the murder. Ramsey suggests that they can get a felony charge if Nigel Prestwick cooperates on the embezzlement. Stabler asks if Nigel has any weaknesses they can leverage, and Ramsey says Nigel is a milquetoast, typical fifth generation WASP elite and inbreeding has melted their brains. Benson walks up, and Stabler says there has to be something, asking if he is a tax cheat, a philanderer, but Ramsey says he is just a cheapskate as Nigel bills all his personal expenses to the foundation. It pays his dues at the Yale club, the Century club, and something called the Donatien Society. Benson seems to know what that is, and Ramsey asks what did he miss. She tells him Mr. Milquetoast is not so vanilla, and tells Stabler to hold off on transporting Anne. She tells Ramsey they should go talk to Prestwick.

At the Prestwick Foundation, Nigel says he told them he can’t press charges, out of respect for Burt Gillette. But she says “Shhhhh, let’s cut to the chase, Nigel. May I call you Nigel? “ He nods quietly and she goes on, coyly, “ You see Nigel, I know that men have needs. But when a wife can’t fill those needs, men have to look elsewhere. “ He says, “Yes.” She continues, “ But sometimes those needs are misunderstood. Judged unfairly by society. (she moves closer to him) On your knees, worm.” As Nigel’s moth is agape, she yells, “NOW!” Nigel drops to his needs, and she puts her leg up on the table, wearing a high black leather boot. Nigel moves to her leg and begins to lick her boot. Ramsey walks in with a camera and snaps a photograph of Nigel in action, and Benson removes her leg off the table and asks Nigel to get up. He stands up, stunned., and Benson says to Ramsey, “You owe me a new pair of boots.” He tells her the pictures are worth 10 pairs of Prada. Nigel begs Ramsey to delete it, and he says he will after he press charges against Anne Gillette for embezzlement. Nigel says they do not know what they are asking of him, the scandal will ruin the foundation and donors will lose respect. But Benson counters that his wife is going to lose respect for him after she finds out about his dirty little fetish. She asks him if he thinks he is pretty clever, naming his secret society after the Marquis de Sade, Donatien Alphonse François? Ramsey says Nigel can protect Anne or he can save his own skin, but he can’t do both. Benson said last year they arrested two sadists of his little club, and she remembered they seized a whole lot of videos. She suggests to Ramsey they should check the evidence locker to see if Nigel was on tape because she specifically remember there was one on Nazi….and Nigel screams “Enough! I’ll do it.” Benson says, “Thought so.”

As Benson and Ramsey walk off, Benson is happy they at least have Anne on an embezzlement charge. Ramsey says it is not world’s the best case, Prestwick told the Chief of Ds it was a misunderstanding and defense counsel will use that. She reminds him they have Hartman the business manager, but Ramsey says he is a co-conspirator and requires corroboration…unless they go Federal. Benson asks him if he went to law school, and he says “London School of Economics.” She comments there are not a lot of MBAs on this job, and he says economics and mathematics impose order on chaos, Benson saying “Like police work.” She says she is finding out something new about him all the time. He says he met this woman from the US Attorney’s office at the opera, and he’s been meaning to call her.Outside the US Attorney’s office at One Centre Street, Camilla (Valerie Cruz) tells Benson and Ramsey it’s a good thing he didn’t ask her to take this case a year ago. After 9/11 all their manpower went to anti-terrorism. Benson tells her the US Attorney’s office has jurisdiction over bank fraud, and she is all they have left. Camilla asks how solid is their evidence, and Ramsey explains he spent 6 months on a forensic accounts of the foundation books, he has affidavits from every bank, plus a match between embezzle cash and Anne Gillette’s expenditures. Camilla comments that there is the rub, and Benson says Camilla doesn’t want to go after Anne Gillette. Camilla remind them Ann’s parents have given millions to politicians, and Benson reminds her that Anne’s parents are now dead, and Anne killed them. Camilla says they can’t prove that, but Ramsey says they will and when they do, she can fold the homicide right into her case. He goes on to explain that Anne tried to cover up the theft with her parent’s cash and the cases are linked. Benson tells her homicide is the big show but they are usually state cases, asking if Camilla knows many Federal prosecutors go their entire career without ever trying a murder. Camilla tells them to give her the files and she will draft a writ to move Anne into Federal custody. Ramsey thanks her, and she says Anne will spend the night at Rikers and they can move her down to MCC tomorrow. Benson says she will give Stabler the good news.

Back at the SVU squad, Stabler opens the door to the interrogation room and when he moves in, asking Anne is she is ready to go, she recoils and tells him not to touch her. Stabler asks Anne’s lawyer Yancy if he wants to explain the drill to “her highness.” Instead, her lawyer consoles her, saying it will be over in a couple hours and they will post bail. But Stabler doubts that, telling them that the Prestwick Foundation had a change of heart. Anne can’t believe that Nigel turned against her. Stabler says his partner can be pretty persuasive, then goes on to say she is being arraigned on felony bank fraud which means it is off to Rikers, and he begins to cuff her. She asks her lawyer to do something, and he indicates he will try but it may be unavoidable. He questions Stabler if the cuffs are really necessary, and Stabler reminds him it is standard procedure, and is sorry they are not diamond encrusted but the bedazzler went AWOL. She stares him in the face and coldly tells Stabler she has no idea what she is capable of. He stares right back and says he saw her mom’s body. She asks if he could really believe she could do something like that to someone she loves, what could she do to someone HE loves? He is silent and then begins to walk her out of the room.

Cragen is in his office working and Stabler asks if Benson and Ramsey are back yet. Cragen says no, it should be about another 20 minutes, and asks why. Stabler asks if they can transport Anne to Rickers, he is going to take a little lost time. Cragen asks what is going on, and Stabler tells him it’s probably nothing, but Cragen presses him and finally Stabler tells him that Anne threatened his family. Cragen says he wouldn’t call that nothing. Stabler says he doesn’t think she has the reach to get anything done from the inside, but just to be safe, he is going to take Kathy and the kids over to her sister’s in Jersey. When he says he is probably overreacting, Cragen says he doesn’t think so, Huang thinks Anne is extremely lethal. He tells Stabler to take care of his family and they will handle the prisoner.

Later, Benson is at her desk and Cragen asks if Anne is tucked in for the night. Benson said corrections gave her the presidential suite. He asks if those are her fives on the homicide, and she says yes, she is just putting the cherry on top before they give it to the Feds. He tells her good, because she is off the case. She looks at him with surprise and says “What?” He tells her, “We got a big problem.” She asks if it is with her, and he indicates yes, and adds also with her buddy Ash Ramsey.

At the residence of Ashok Ramsey, Benson is pounding on the door, yelling for him to answer. He yells that he hear her and to bugger off. She yells it is Olivia Benson, and he opens the door immediately and asks if she ever sleeps. She says he didn’t answer her phone, and is shocked to see police waiting there to ram down his door. She tells them they are hear to protect him, Anne Gillette just took a hit out on them.

Inside his apartment, Benson tells Ramsey that an informant at Rikers ratted Anne out, saying she was buying a contract out on them. They don’t know if she has made contact with a hit man but Cragen doesn’t want to take any chances. Suddenly, Camilla walks out of another room and tells Benson it is good to see her, and then thanks Ramsey for “the files” and says good night and leaves. He tells Benson don’t say it, conflict of interest, gross impropriety, compromising the case. Benson said he could have kissed her good night. He quips that he didn’t make her climb down the fire escape. He asks Benson how much they are worth, and she says 100 grand. He says, “That’s all?” and she adds it’s for both of them. Ramsey said they should have known she would do something like this. Benson says that killing your parents is one thing, but murdering two cops, that’s another ball game. Ramsey adds, “Not for a psychopath.” He goes on to say she hasn’t seen the real Anne Gillette yet, just shadows and masks, the grieving daughter, the frightened victim, the socialite. Benson thinks she is good at playing part, but greedy and thieving doesn’t make her a psychopath. He counters that not all psychopaths are murderers and rapists, some never commit a crime, and they have adapted their amorality to fit into society. Benson says like his friends on Wall Street, and he says who better the leverage the bad of a company without giving a damn about the people who lose their pensions along with their jobs. Benson argues it is not the same thing, they didn’t break the law, there’s a big difference between embezzlement and rape. Ramsey agrees, saying rapists get 18 years in Attica, and white collar criminals get 19 months in Club Fed. He’s sick of watching her perps get soft time. Benson tells him they’d better make sure that Anne Gillette goes down for murder.

Back in Cragen’s office, he tells them they are both off the case as it is too dangerous. Benson argues they can’t reassign them, but he says it is already done, saying this means Stabler too. They have no idea what kind of associates Anne has or whether she has something in play already. Ramsey said they promised the US Attorney they would transfer her to the Federal jail today, and Cragen says let the marshal service handle it. Benson wants him to let them pick her up at Rikers and transfer down to lockup at Foley Square. Cragen says NO, it’s done.

Stabler walks in to the locker room and asks Benson if she is going somewhere. She says she just has some errands to run. He pulls out her bulletproof vest out of her bag and asks if her drycleaner had anger issues. He tells her not to do this, but she says she is not going to let that bitch scare her off. He says maybe she should, he sent his family away. Benson reminds him they are civilians, she has a job to do. He asks if Ramsey put her up to this, and she said no, it was her idea. As she moves to walk out he tells her to wait a minute, is she just going to deal him out? She tells him she’s trying to protect him from the fallout. He comments while she and sir CG just cowboy it up. She asks if he has a problem with Ash, but he says no, but she is HIS partner and if anyone has her back it should be him. She tells him it is fine, she can handle Anne Gillette, he had to handle the captain.

At Rikers, Anne is being led out by Ramsey, saying she should be flattered she is being kicked up to the Feds. She asks have are the federal facilities, and he tells her Martha Stewart called it going to Yale. Anne says at least they will have a better class of prisoner as Rikers is full of awful women and she’ll get to wear blue, which is much more flattering with her coloring, adding she is a “summer.” Benson has caught up with them and asks if they are all set, and the move to leave.With Anne in the back of the car, Ramsey driving, and Benson in the passenger seat, Anne asks where they are. Benson responds it is Queens, Anne saying it is no wonder she’s never been there. Suddenly, a white van pulls out in front of the car and they are forced to stop quickly. The van door opens and Benson yells, “GO! GO! GO!” to Ramsey, as he puts the car in reverse and begins to go backwards quickly. But their reverse exit is blocked by a large truck. Ramsey and Benson get out of the car and begin firing at the people in the van, who are armed with automatic weapons. Anne seems happy at this event. The people in the van return fire and both Ramsey and Benson are hit multiple times, and both fall to the ground. One of the masked gunmen runs up to the car and opens the back door and unbuckles Anne from her seat. She happily runs away from the scene and gets into the van, and Benson and Ramsey lay on the ground with several gunshot wounds to the chest. As the van pulls away, Anne looks out the back window a Benson and Ramsey laying apparently lifeless on the ground.

In a hotel room, a man with a ski mask over his head leads Anne into the room. She says it isn’t the Waldorf but then again the concierge would have objected to his attire. The mask comes off, and it is Fin. He asks he if she wants to go somewhere else, there is the door. As she goes through a bag with clothes in it, she asks how about a ride to the West Chester County airport as there is a jet waiting, Fin says sure, as soon as he gets the rest of his money. She says she told him she would wire it into his account and doesn’t he trust her? He tells her he just iced two cops for her, he doesn’t trust her any further than he can throw her. She tells him she will make the call now, and she moves to use the hotel phone. But he tells her not that phone, and he hands her a cell phone, saying you never know who might be listening. Meanwhile. Surveillance cameras are watching, and Ramsey and Benson, clearly not dead, get into the surveillance van, Benson complaining, “First it’s my boots, now it’s my shirt. “ Ramsey tells her they will go shopping. Stabler is already there, and asks if they mind if they wrap this up first. The call Anne made on Fin’s phone is ringing, and a man answers “bonjour” and asks if this is the bank in Geneva, Ramsey watches and comments that Anne is enjoying this. She hands the phone back to Fin and says, ”All done.” She asks where are her manners, her father told her to seal every business deal with champagne and asks if he thinks this dump has room service. Stabler, still watching, says “They do now.”

Anne comes out of the bathroom in a black dress, and says that when her cell mate told her she knew a hit man, she had no idea he would be so attractive. He says he is the total package. She tells him she wishes she met him sooner, his skills would have come in handy. He asks “in killing your parents?” She responds she didn’t kill her parents. He tells her to relax baby, she is among friends, but goes on to say an ax is old school. She tells him he didn’t know her mother, constant judgment, carping, and then “the bitch” told her daddy to cut her out of the will. She had him wrapped around her finger for years, but mother was out to get her, always whispering nasty things in his ear. She didn’t want him dead but…and Fin says it is collateral damage. She agrees. She suggests that he come with her, calling him darling, she could use someone with his skills, the possibilities for them are endless, saying that Rio is always beautiful this time of year. There is a knock on the door, and Fin pulls out a gun, asking who is it. Stabler’s voice says, “room service.” Anne comments that it is about time. Fin unlocks the door, and Benson, Ramsey, and Stabler walk in, and the smile on Anne’s face disappears. She says to Fin” “You bastard” and he tells her she is going to take this trip alone, “darling.” He tells him to get off of her, and yells she will kill him them all. As Anne continues to protest, Ramsey says, “Finally the mask comes off” and Benson adds, “we get to see the real Anne Gillette.” Fin asks what took them so long, As Fin walks Anne out of the room in cuffs, Stabler looks back on the room, and Benson nods to a very satisfied looking Ramsey, and the three of them exit the room as we fade to black.